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The race for two Jeffco school board seats has so far garnered nearly $90,000 in contributions among the four candidates, with the two Democratically endorsed contenders raising more than four and a half times that of their Republican-backed opponents.

Leading in campaign contributions as of Oct. 6 was District 4 candidate Lesley Dahlkemper, who has raised more than $42,000. District 3 candidate Jill Fellman followed with more than $31,000 in contributions.

The Jeffco commissioners postponed again last week approving a measure that would charge the public for access to open records.

The public information department, headed by county spokeswoman Kathryn Heider, proposed a revised set of fees Oct. 11, though Commissioner John Odom took issue with a flat hourly charge of $34 for county staff to collect documents.

The Jefferson County Public Library is planning to eliminate 15 full-time employees and dramatically reduce hours of operation at all branches next year to address nearly $2.3 million in anticipated budget cuts, staff announced last week.

Jefferson County is planning to spend about $12 million more in 2012 than in 2011, despite a $4 million decline in predicted revenue, according to a budget proposed last week.

Revenue is down slightly largely due to a 4 percent decrease in property-value assessments, which are anticipated to bring in $7.7 million less than in the current year. The proposed budget is about $489 million. The current year’s budget was approved at nearly $477 million.

Saturday's rainy, snowy weather did not dampen the enthusiasm as hundreds gathered at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield to pick Halloween pumpkins during the annual Pumpkin Festival.

Erica Hewitt, pictured, laughs as she pulls a muddy pumpkin from the patch. Chatfield's corn maze is open on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. through Oct. 30.

A Jeffco inmate died Oct. 11 after being shot by a deputy during an alleged escape attempt while at a medical imaging center in Golden.

Medics transported Jesus Aguilar, 28, to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, where he was later pronounced dead. The deputy, who has not been identified, fired one shot at about 11:40 a.m., a spokesman for the Golden Police Department said.

The Jeffco school board threw its support behind Proposition 103 last week, a measure that could bring $35 million to $40 million in tax revenue to the district per year through 2016.

Under the proposition, state tax rates would increase to the same levels of 1999, garnering an estimated $2.9 billion in additional funds to pay for K-12 education in public schools. State sales tax would be raised from 2.9 percent to 3 percent, and income tax would increase from 4.63 percent to 5 percent.

Two Jeffco school board candidates elaborated at a forum Oct. 5 on their positions on private-school vouchers after avoiding the question during interviews and at least one previous debate.

District 3 candidate Preston Branaugh and District 4 candidate Jim Powers did not say they necessarily favored vouchers, though they indicated the controversial measure could be considered in the future.